ANN ARBOR — While Michigan works this spring on offense to find a starting quarterback, key positions on the offensive line and receivers, the running back room seems set.
Michigan added transfer Justice Haynes, who spent the last two seasons at Alabama, and also returns sophomore Jordan Marshall and junior Ben Hall, who had carries last season, along with Micah Ka’apana and Bryson Kuzdzal.Haynes rushed for 616 yards on 105 carries and had nine touchdowns at Alabama. Last season, Marshall gained 120 yards on 31 carries, but his breakout game came in the bowl, when he had 23 carries for 100 yards. Hall played in eight games and had 29 carries for 72 yards. Haynes is expected to make an immediate impact for Michigan.
“You see him as a guy that’s another leader on the team,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore told reporters on Monday. The team had its first spring practice in pads last Saturday. “The dude only eats one-ingredient foods. That’s why he looks like a statue. He takes care of his body in every way. He’s a leader off the field with how he approaches academics and his social life and everything.
“On the field, he has that mentality about him. You can see his experience and him playing in big games before and understanding the game and understanding the moment and understanding how to prepare. He brings that to that room and to the offense and to the team. It’s been great to have him around.”
First-year Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said last week that Haynes brings a veteran presence to the room the Wolverines need, following the departures of Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, both preparing for the NFL Draft.
“He’s just going to add another dimension to that room,” Lindsey said.
Moore said Marshall has picked up where he left off in the bowl game and said Hall continues to improve. There will be carries to go around, since, Lindsey said, the days of playing one back are gone. He likes the room’s depth.
“We’d love to have two guys that are kind of interchangeable, that can share the load, and a third guy, too, that gets quality reps, as well,” Lindsey said. “I think that’s important. It’s a physical position. … So we’re going to need them all. And establishing that pecking order and how it works and the different personnel groups where we can use multiple guys is important as well.”
Spring game is on
Some programs have decided not to have a public spring game this year, citing reasons like the transfer portal and roster turnover, but the Wolverines’ spring game will be at Michigan Stadium on April 19 at noon.
“It’s a great opportunity for our players and our fans to be out there and see just the team in general,” Moore said. “We’re not going to run every single play and do every single thing, but it’s a great opportunity, and especially for guys that might not get the chance to play at the Big House on Saturdays as much as others. Everybody talks about the portal and all that, and we all know that regardless, you have to have a great relationship with your players, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Moore’s progress
Safety Rod Moore, a captain last season, suffered a season-ending knee injury a year ago in spring football and did not play last season. He is not yet participating in spring practice. Sherrone Moore said, Moore is “recovering well.”
Zvada booming field goals
One of the most important returning players for the Wolverines is Dominic Zvada, the Big Ten Kicker of the Year. He was 21-of-22 on field goals last season, including 7-of-7 on kicks from 50 yards or more.
“He hit like a 60-yarder the other day and just walked off like nothing happened,” Moore said. “Love the kid. He’s put on like 10 pounds of muscle. For a kicker, that probably doesn’t mean much, but to him, he feels good. He came in the other day with like a reversed Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant jersey. I was like, ‘Dude, you’re the only kicker in the country that can wear that with that much swag.’ It was beautiful.”
No rush on naming QB
The biggest storyline for the Wolverines heading into the season is who will be the starting quarterback. In contention are Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, sophomore Jadyn Davis and freshman Bryce Underwood, a five-star prospect and the nation’s top-rated recruit.
All three are sharing equal reps in practice, but Michigan’s staff has the luxury of time so expect this competition to go deep into preseason camp.
“Not in a rush to make that decision,” Moore said. “It’s been a great competition so far. But it’s been awesome to watch those guys. They’re so together. It’s a room that’s really together and that understands it and support each other, which is really cool to see.”